Posted on 11/07/2015 1:26:36 AM PST by lee martell
I was on the stationary bike today, watching one of the TV's hung high on the wall. There was a bout of kickboxers just beginning. The only time I'm really interested in watching televised sports would be for activities in the ring and/or dojo. I tried to recall when was the last time, or one of the last times I ever put fist to jaw in anger? Training doesn't count. One is not even supposed to be in a boxing or martial arts class if you are too agitated, because that force will come out upon your training partner, who will have the urge to retaliate.
I've had a lot of experience in working with mentally ill adults, often much younger than myself. I've gone through training to chose the best approach when confronted by someone upset. First thing is not to escalate the situation if at all possible. That may mean not immediately responding in kind to every unkind word or unsavory tone. Second thing is understand you need not respond immediately to every perceived slight. But what if the tension continues to build? What if it becomes clear that ignoring the source or the troublemaker is not going to work. Third may be to speak with authority, possibly putting an end to the scene. Forth tactic is to let the person talk, some people just need to let go of built up tension. Maybe no one has been listening to them for quite a while.
I have to put on my (now dusty) Thinking Cap and go back, far back to the seventh grade. A classmate wanted me to take a duffle bag box to another area of the school for him. I knew that wasn't the school dufflebag, and that this kid had a reputation for drug dealing. I refused. The classmate took this as my way of saying that i was 'too good' to do anything for him or his friends. The banter went back and forth for a while, until the kid was 1 inch away from my face yelling about people like me, who don't think he's good enough to be friends with. I pushed him away, almost knocking him on his rear. We enchanged a few hits, not much. Mostly bluster. By that time. the school bell had rung for classes to change. The student didn't bother me after that, but I got dirty looks from his little Goon Squad for the rest of the semester. I'm sure you Freepers have better, more sizzling stories, but I don't really.
Even though my fighting experience was very minor, very quick and blood-free, I'm glad I had those few fights, because I felt a little braver about everything else after that. Learning to stay put and deal with a tense situation is a valuable trait.
Are todays' schoolkids ever allowed to fight without being put on detention or even expelled?
5th grade
Last fight for me was in 1995. The 10th grade. Mexican wannabe thug decided to try and jump me on the bus. I maneuvered out of the way, thew him onto the seat, and proceeded to pummel his face until the bus driver intervened. After that point the scrawny bespectacled white kid was known on the bus as “Rocky.”
Suspended for a week. It was worth it. Had no problem throughout the remainder of High school. Today, I would be expelled an arrested.
My last “fight” occurred in 2000 when a gypsy tried to take my wallet. My husband and I had just exited Gaudi’s beautiful Casa Milà in Barcelona, and my head was so full of architecture that I didn’t bother to button up my coat and hide my kangaroo pouch where I carried my wallet. Several gypsies came over, wanting to “give” us flowers. I suddenly realized something felt funny, looked down to see my open and empty kangaroo pouch, and glanced up to see that one rather tall and imposing gypsy woman had my wallet in her hand! I suppose I should have let her have it . . . but I had an instant nightmare about how difficult it was going to be to replace all my credit cards, ID, etc. So I grabbed her by the lapels of her sweater (although she had to be six inches taller than me), shook her, and screamed, “Give me back my wallet!” Shocked, she dropped it and took off like a rabbit. I probably shook for twenty minutes after that.
I learned . . . to make copies of all your credit cards, ID, etc., and take them along with you when you travel. It’s easier than risking a shiv to the gut. I also learned that I’m meaner than I thought I was. Which is not entirely a bad thing.
Old age is why God created reason.
Unreasonable people are why men created guns.
Yesterday. I learned I still got it...
I learned my ABCD of fighting. Asses, breathe, control, depart.
Don’t p*ss off an old guy.
He will just shoot you. End of fight.
April 2002. Couple of big ol' football player types thought it would be fun to jump the pizza guy. I ended up with two cracked ribs, a broken wrist and 30 staples in my head, but they got a lot more of a fight than they were expecting.
What I learned: A 4-cell Maglite is less than effective as a defensive tool. What they learned: A 4-cell Maglite, when taken from the victim and used on him, is less than effective as an offensive tool.
Outside a bar in Alaska while serving in the Army. Previous to that, I had been a bar drinker and I would frequently “have problems at bars” which usually ended up in some sort of physical altercation. I was arrested but never charged (turns out the other guy was a convicted felon with a firearm) and I realized a couple of things:
1. I am the sort of person that shouldn’t be drinking alcohol 2. I could easily go too far and seriously hurt someone
3. I could be shot and killed
Now I take personal defense way more seriously. I don’t go to bars or drink (sober 5 years now) and rarely is it do I have problems with anyone. Having said that, I will step up and defend myself and family if the need arise. I am willing and capable of being that obstacle
google school and fight. Do they ever fight? all the time.
my last college wrestling match probably qualifies. after that i was injured too severely to train seriously in a practice. Thankfully the season was over.
The Three Stupids Rule:
1. Don't go to stupid places
2. With stupid people
3. And do stupid things.
Last fight - in a bar 12 years ago ... guy less than half my age ... smashed him with am elbow after he grabbed me from behind - then pummeled him - he was on the floor - I left.
Encounter with a young doctor who found out his G/F was messing with me while he was out of town... He slammed me from behind on a club dance floor ... Elbow to the face ... he was on the floor. I left.
Cocktail lounge - some guy jumped up yelling at me - because some gal told him I was a jerk (she was having hallucinations thinking I was her ex-husband)... While he was threatening me - I gave him two jabs to the face - he was on the floor ... I left.
I have never ever started a fight... But I learned how to end them ... Don’t Talk - DO ... pivot turn with your back towards them and then slam them with your elbow with all your weight behind you. Or jab them hard - one - two in the face ...
Not Martial Arts — but works...
When was your last physical fight? What did you learn?
******************
Keep them in front of you and start pointing a gun right at their center mass from a safe distance.
Helps to remember that nothing good happens after midnight
Kid called the girl I liked a name, I told him to take it back...
He said make me...
Three punches right to the face, he was on his butt and all the fight was out of him...
Little did he know my twin brother and I fought all the time...bare knuckle brawls...
Christmas eve 2013. Schizophrenic off his meds, had just beat up his cellmate. Me and 3 officers and a sergeant fought what seemed like hours to get restraints on him. (it was actually about 10 minutes). He tried to stab my partner with a pencil and it was off to the races. Finally got leg irons on him by laying across his legs. He broke my glasses.
Lesson learned: Schizophrenic convicted killers really need to take their effing meds!
CC
I learned that if you are drunk, you will lose.
A guy that I was CERTAIN could not whip me, busted me in the nose before I knew anything was going to happen. I had been sitting in a bar drinking beer for hours just prior, he had taken a dose of meth.
To sum up, I learned, dont be a damned fool!
Ha...last night...(stopped a fight in progress)
Everybody has a plan until they get punched.
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